In this down economy I have learned that all of those THINGS that I used to think I had to have are, after all, just things. Things can be taken from you in an instant. One day you can have all of the things you ever wanted and the next they can all be gone.
In taking personal stock of the situation, I have realized that the things that money can’t buy are the things that are really important. When I look around my world, I am surrounded by the deep love of seven children and four grandchildren, 2 extraordinary sisters, a passel of nieces and nephews, a great aunt, brothers-in-law and a son-in law. I have wonderful friends, some of whom I have known since I was very young. I have the respect of my peers. I was blessed with a great brain and an endless thirst for more knowledge. I have traveled the world, flown on the Concorde, crossed the Panama Canal, learned to speak Spanish and Italian, have no fear of public speaking, love my profession, personally cared for both my parents until the day they each died at home, have helped make the difference in a family of six, have taught my children and grandchildren a slew of board and card games, have a piece of the Berlin wall, have seen the Whirling Dirvishes and ridden a camel. I have truly had an extraordinary life. While the majority of the things may have disappeared, the memories of of a life fulfilled is the greatest gift of all. No one can take my intelligence or break my spirit. I am the eternal optomist and a big dreamer. Oh yes, I can have those things again and I will have the ones I really want, but this time will be different. I will have an appreciation of the real price I am paying to have those things. I know one thing for sure, those things can never replace the priceless gifts life has given me.
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Amen! I agree wholeheartedly. I believe the silver lining in this economic downturn is that people have re-evaluated what is important in life. It is not the “things” and the unending the pursuit of money and success – as you said that can all be taken away in a moment. People are learning to be friends again, to help one another, to care for one another, to be “real” with one another. We are staying home and playing board games and having potlucks – and discovering it is a lot of fun! I think a whole generation of children is going to be saved because of this financial down turn. They are learning that you don’t get everything you want, you don’t need to newest version of whatever electronic gadget is the current rage, they are hearing “we can’t afford that” and realizing sometimes you go without and you save up for something special…and guess what….it becomes “special”, not cast aside when you are bored with it.
I had the opportunity to have a beautiful conversation with my daughter – it was about a year ago and she was 8 at the time. She is one of those “old souls” – very observant and aware of the world around her and how things work and a very compassionate person. She turned to me in the car on the way to a birthday party and said “Daddy, can I ask you a question”…”of course” I responded. “Are you happy with all of the things that you have?” I paused – what an extraordinary and odd question from an 8 year old. “Yes” I answered, “There isn’t anything else I can think of that I really need”. And her response was “Me too. You know that family and friends are the most important things, not stuff”. Out of the mouths of babes!
The rest of the conversation was talking about how the things you buy, the clothes you wear, the shoes, the toys, the “stuff” will mostly be forgotten in 10 or 20 years. And then I was able to end the conversation with such an insightful lesson (for myself as well as for my daughter) “But the relationships you build, the people who touch your life and whose lives you touch and the experiences you have…..those are with you for the rest of your life”.
Here’s to a great 2010 – filled with an abundance of health, good friends, dear family and experiences to last a lifetime!